Erice eyes SC petition on anti-dynasty law, doubts Congress will pass measure

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said Sunday he is considering filing a petition before the Supreme Court to push for an Anti-Political Dynasty Law, citing doubts that Congress will approve the measure.

“Balak ko sana kung hindi ma-actionan ito, iakyat ko na. Isasampa ko sa SC muli tulad ng unprogrammed appropriations upang dapat siguro may definition na ’yan, dapat talaga obligahin ng implementasyon ng gobyerno ang anti-political dynasty law,” Erice told Super Radyo dzBB.

(I’m planning that if there is no action, I will bring it to the Supreme Court again, similar to what was done with unprogrammed appropriations. There should be a clear definition of this, and the government should be compelled to implement an anti-political dynasty law.)

Erice said the current version of the proposed measure in the House would legitimize political dynasties and could draw public backlash.

“Kung ganitong version ang ipapasa, taliwas ito sa Constitution at hindi talaga makakapigil sa patuloy na paglakas ng political dynasty,” he said.

(If this version is passed, it would go against the Constitution and would not stop the continued expansion of political dynasties.)

He also questioned the administration’s commitment to the measure.

“Sa tingin ko, walang political will ang ating Pangulo na isulong ito, sapagkat nakasalalay pa rin sa suporta ng political dynasties ang kanyang pamumuno, lalo na sa gitna ng mga kontrobersiya gaya ng sa flood control,” Erice said.

(I think the President lacks the political will to push this forward, because his leadership still depends on the support of political dynasties, especially amid controversies such as those involving flood control.)

GMA News Online has sought comment from Malacañang.

On March 17, the anti-political dynasty bill approved by the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms reached the plenary—only the second time since 1987 that such a measure has been sponsored on the floor.

Sponsored by Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, House Bill 8389 seeks to prohibit relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity from running for or holding public office simultaneously within the same jurisdiction.

Relatives within the second degree of consanguinity include parents, children, siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren, while those within the second degree of affinity include spouses and in-laws.

HB 8389, a substitute measure consolidating 17 bills, is now under the period of interpellation.

Among the consolidated measures is HB 6771, authored by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos III.

The proposed measure seeks to disqualify spouses, siblings, and relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity of an elected official from simultaneously holding specific elective posts.

Erice opposed the approved version, arguing it still allows relatives to hold office at the same time as long as they serve in different localities.

“It was approved as is. Five congressmen in five districts, 10 mayors in 10 cities—all related,” he said. “Everybody in public office is now relatives.”

He added that the measure falls short of the Constitution’s intent to curb political dynasties.

“This is not what is in the Constitution. They do not want to limit family members in public office. From a fat dynasty, now we have an obese one,” he said.

Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution states that “the State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”—MCG, GMA News